ZCU accepts three-person tribunal

The Zimbabwe Cricket Union has agreed to the ICC's arbitration process to resolve its differences with the 15 rebel players, though the players themselves are yet to agree to the plan.

The ICC's system, which was specifically devised as an alternative to the drawn out disputes resolution process, involves a three-person tribunal, sitting in Zimbabwe, whose decision on the matter will be "final and binding". One member will be nominated by the ZCU, the other by the players, and the chairman by the two nominees.

The ICC will meet with Chris Venturas, the players' legal representative, tomorrow (July 16), but has made it clear that it is not willing to wait much longer for their decision on whether to accept the arbitration process.

"The ICC has advised the players of its strong preference to have this matter dealt with as quickly as possible and has expressed its reluctance to provide this extension which would leave these matters unresolved," said a statement issued on Wednesday. "It has now asked the players to fast-track their decision on whether they will agree to this proposal to allow the matter to move to the next stage."

However, Venturas has said the rebels were already involved in the formal ICC disputes resolution process and were reluctant to abandon that method. "Whether we actually go to arbitration at this moment is an issue," said Venturas. "We have a dispute mechanism pending with the ICC as we speak and we are not happy to withdraw it yet. We might relinquish certain rights and remedies if we withdraw that ICC dispute resolution which we initiated two months ago."

Venturas added that the players would prefer a domestic resolution to the problem, saying: "It's a Zimbabwean issue and we want Zimbabwe to sort it out. But if my clients are better off proceeding in this courtroom in the UK then we'll have to abide by that."

Most of the rebel players are currently in England touring as a side called the Red Lions. They played the first of six games on the three-week tour yesterday, against Lashings, a celebrity cricket side.

However, Stuart Carlisle, who is captaining the Red Lions, has said in the past that it would be difficult for the players to resume a working relationship with the ZCU because of the damage caused by the row between the two.

"Some of the individuals in the ZCU that have helped cause the problems have to be booted out of cricket completely," he said. "The cancer must be cleansed. If that happens then I'm sure we can work together."